Is Palo Brunch still worth it without the Buffet?

[HeatherLassell]

We are sailing on the Wish in November. We currently are booked for Palo Brunch but are trying to decide if it is worth getting dressed for the brunch without the buffet anymore. The buffet was always a big part of the brunch to us. We are Platinum and have done both Palo dinner and brunch several times before. We really enjoyed the brunch with the buffet but fear we will be disapointed without it.

I personally didn't feel like I got the same value as I did back when they had the buffet. I can take or leave Palo now.

 

[Sherrilatte]

You've got four nights and three MDRs. So, you'll visit one MDR twice. One of those two nights will be pirate night.

If you schedule your adult dining for pirate night, then you won't miss any of the three new MDR menus. Otherwise, you will. On a 4-night sailing, pirate night is usually the third night and the dining rotation is ABBC.

Thanks for info! I would rather go to Palo on pirate night.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I've got pirate night booked with Enchante, but don't have space for a Palo dinner as well because there are three MDRs, so brunch it is.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

If I had never experienced the buffet I would have thought the new brunch was very good, if a little overpriced. But there were so many delicious things in the buffet that you can’t get anymore so I’m bitter that they took it away. I don’t consider the 2 antipasti plates to be a worthy substitute at all.

I do appreciate the adults-only, peaceful atmosphere, so we will probably consider going again even if it’s not as good as before.

 

[Snowwhyt]

We always made reservations on our last seven trips for Palo brunch. My last visit to Palo brunch was in February but without the Buffet.! I had to order off the menu which I have never done in the past. much of it was savory tasted just like a meal you’d order at a nice restaurant. All great flavors on the Buffet but nothing I would want to make a whole meal out of, that would’ve been a little too much.
What I really liked was try an item that’s too spicy that’s OK have a few bites of cheese ready for something else savory give something else a try.
As gold I’m gonna make reservations for Palo and then cancel them if they still haven’t brought back the Buffet just like I did on my May cruise.

 

[insureman]

As I have said in other posts I would not go to brunch if I had to pay for it. It's not the same at all as it was before the shutdown.

 

[MrMarcus]

My first cruise post-covid wrapped up Monday on the Wonder. We did both Palo dinner and brunch. With the changes to the brunch, although I am glad we did it on the Alaska cruise to see the changes, going forward we do not plan to worry about scheduling Palo brunch if it remains the way it is.

Maybe our view is skewed from the fine brunch as it had been, but based on our experience with Palo brunch last week we do not need to spend the time or money on brunch to be able to say we did it going forward. Hopefully others can enjoy with less competition for the reduced product.

 

[nikem3]

Doing the Palo Brunch for the first time in October. Any recommendation on "must order" foods?

 

[dwg]

The more we look at the Palo's brunch menu the more we are thinking it is not worth it for us without the buffet. The buffet is what made the brunch fun for us. They could have left the buffet but changed it to stations where you walked up and were served what you wanted instead of taking it away. Unless DCL brings back the buffet is some form before our cruise we will most likely cancel our reservations.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Honestly, I don't miss the buffet at all.

The antipasti selection has plenty of options that were on the buffet before. If you want anything, just ask your server. We got a whole extra tray of crab legs which were previously my favorite part of the buffet.

I miss the sticky buns, but other than that removing the buffet makes it feel like we aren't overeating as well.

Best part about the buffet being gone seems to be that its easier for me to get brunch reservations

 

[MakiraMarlena]

they do still have the pizzas. I'd be good with a couple of pizzas. full disclosure, I'm platinum so I won't be paying for them.

 

[closetmickey]

I miss the chocolate covered strawberries…

Is there still any hope that the buffet will be back? Worried that it would have happened by now- especially after reading the Pirate buffet is back.

 

[Henlady]

I miss the sticky buns, but other than that removing the buffet makes it feel like we aren't overeating

On the Wish they now have sticky bun listed on the brunch menu. It is listed with the desserts but I imagine you could get one earlier in the meal.

 

[magsnwonderland]

Are they planning to change Palo on all of the ships from Italian to the new steakhouse concept? I wouldn't think they'd bring back the buffet just to revamp the whole place. I never got to experience the buffet, but the antipasti plates are underwhelming for me since I'm a cheese lover and there isn't nearly the selection there used to be on the buffet.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Is there still any hope that the buffet will be back?

Sadly apparently the plan is never having the buffet again.

 

[MrMarcus]

they do still have the pizzas. I'd be good with a couple of pizzas. full disclosure, I'm platinum so I won't be paying for them.

Two weeks ago on the Wonder, the Palo brunch had pizzas, but not all the former pizzas.

I missed having the grape pizza on the updated Palo menu.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

We no longer find the value or enjoyment of Palo's brunch.

 

[CamColt]

Doing the Palo Brunch for the first time in October. Any recommendation on "must order" foods?

The chicken parm is my must do, however on our last cruise I tried a dessert I never had before, the warm Amaretto with chocolate fondant. I wasn't really hungry and almost didn't order it but the Amaretto had me intrigued. It may have been the best dessert I've had in 24 Disney Cruises (and yes, I've had the chocolate souffle). It was amazing! I will definitely leave space for this next time.

 

[nikem3]

The chicken parm is my must do, however on our last cruise I tried a dessert I never had before, the warm Amaretto with chocolate fondant. I wasn't really hungry and almost didn't order it but the Amaretto had me intrigued. It may have been the best dessert I've had in 24 Disney Cruises (and yes, I've had the chocolate souffle). It was amazing! I will definitely leave space for this next time.

View attachment 696822

This is awesome to hear because those two were items that immediately caught my eye. I love Chicken Parm and that dessert looks amazing.

 

[Doofenshmirtz513]

Removal of the buffet really shifted my brunch experience to focus more on the entrees, but I actually enjoyed them more than the brunch items. The eggs benedict are the best I've ever had (and I order them almost any time I can); the chicken parm is amazing, and the lasagna is other worldly.

We did Palo brunch and Palo dinner on our recent cruise. Dinner was good, but I won't do it again any time soon. Brunch remains a must-do for us. It was probably the highlight of our cruise.